Kids Crank Hard in Hueco

Didier Raboutou was a big name in World climbing back in the 1980's and 90's - forging new sport routes at the cutting edge of what was possible. Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou was one of the World's leading female climbers around the same time, winning multiple World Cup competitions and operating at the very highest levels of the time.

The Raboutou's have two children; Shawn (11) and Brooke (8) who have both been cranking hard at Hueco Tanks in Texas.

Andy Mann reports on the prAna blog that he had a day taking photographs of the family out on the boulders:

"Highlights of the day included Brooke and Shawn sending/flashing the classic V8 “Mr.Serious.” (Shawn shortly thereafter added the V10 sit start, and Brooke went on the send a V9!)"

Climbing V9 (Font 7C) at the tender age of 8 is remarkable. Is it due to a genetic advantage from having such top performing parents, or does it show that climbing difficulty still has a long way to go?